Mechanical take-up for tear strip applicator



March. 9 P. w. JAcosEm 2,825,557

MECHANICAL TAKE-UP FOR TEAR STRIP APPLICATOR Filed May 12, 1954 3 sheetssheec l E3 37 FE 7.7. ZU 2" Pa 1;! W rfaaobsezz March 4, 1958 P. w.JACOBSEN 2,825,557

MECHANICAL TAKE-UP FOR TEAR STRIP APPLICATOR Filed May -12. 1954 3Sheets-sheaf; 2

.27 FE Paul W c/Zzcobsezz W W, M a

March 4, 1958 P. w. JACOBSEN MECHANICAL TAKE-UP FOR TEAR STRIPAPPLICATOR Filed May 12, 1954 s sheets-sheet 3' V N m. x l

EFE'I'ZZLUT R111! W daaobs-ezz United TAKE-UPFOR TEAR STRIP APPLICATORApplieation May 12, 1954, Serial No. 429,348.

3LCIaimS. (Cl; 271-.-.-2.2)

Thisinvention relatestoamechanical take-up for tape applying mechanismsand particularly to amechanical takeeup fora rocker typelay downdeviceemployed in a tear. strip.- applicator machine.

It is an objectof the present invention to provide-novel means foraccommodating application of tape to rapidly moving articles.

ItviS a. further object of'the present invention to provide novehmeansfor effectively reducing the inertia of a tape supplyin amachine. forapplying a tape-to moving arti: cles.

It is another object of. thc-present-invention to provide a-noveltake-upwmechanism for use with a rocker type lay down device in applyinga tear strip to carton blanks;

' Qther objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following detaileddescription takenin connectionwith; the accompanying sheets of drawinggain which:

Fignrelis aidiagrammatic illustration of a tape applying mechanism for a.tear strip applicator machine embodying thetakcmp. device of thepresent invention and illustrating theinitial condition of theapparatus;-

Figure -2 is adiagrammatic view similar-to Fig. 1 but illustrating thecondition ofthe take-up mechanism just aftertravelof a carton blankthrough: theapparatus;

Figure,3 is a diagrammatic view.similar toFig. l and illustrating thecondition-of the. apparatus justprior to arrival of a second cartonblankat the tape applying me an m:

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view-of the take up mechanismof the present invention;

'Figure 5.is .a fragmentary end-elevational view of the m t re l FiFigure 6 is ,a fragmentary vertical sectional. view illustratinglthetake-up carriage in front, elevation; and

Figure .7 is .-a fragmentary transversesectional view illustrating thettake-up-carriage in side elevation.

As shown on thedrawings: The present invention.is particularly adaptedfor use witha tear; strip applicator machine for applying anad-i.

hes; tape toimoving articles, and particularly to theapp.icationofacontinuous strip of normally tacky. pressure sensitiveadhesive tape having great tensile strength tofa cartonblank stampedfrom a piece of boxboard ni oneformof tear strip applicator for cartonblanks, thetapeisapplied along one broad surface of the cartonblank,around the leading end surface and thence alonga seconc l ,broad.surface on the opposite side of the blank, thettapeserving as a tearstrip after the blank has been formedintoga carton for use inopening thecarton.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a pair anemones 10and '11'for delivering a carton blank 1210a tape applying section 13 ofa tear strip applicator machine.- An elongated frame 15 is disposedalong the path of advancement of the carton blank 12, with its nearcndblSCextending toward the point fromwhich the blank 12fisadvanced; andits far end 15" extending toward the paint toward whichthearticleisadvanced. The frame atent F Ice 15 is mounted at'a'pointbetween its ends 'for pivotal movement about an-axis, 16" thatisparallel to a taperapplying platen 18 and at right angles. to the pathof advanccment of the blank 12.

An'applying roller 19 is mounted atthe near end 15' oftheframe forrotation about aniaxis 21 that is parallel withthe-pivotal axis- 16. Anidler roller 22 is mounted at the near end 15' of the frame between theapplying: roller 19 and the point from which the blank 12" isadf vanced,for rotation about "an axis 24 that is parallel with the-pivot-axis 16:Twopilot rollers 26; one on either sideof the frame 15; are mounted atthe'far end '15" of the frame for -rotation about an axis-27 that isparallel with the-pivotaxis 16;

Yieldable bias-means-in-the form of a" spring 30' that isattachedto-the-nearencllS of the frame, impels the nearend upwardly about thepivot *axis 16, thereby causingthe-fanend 15 of the -frarne1S normallyto bear downwardly towardsthe platen 18" to bring the peripheries of thepilot rollers 26 in closer spaced relationito the =platen-than isthe.periphery of the applying roller 19. ThefIame-IS is then at rest,in-norrnal position (Figs. 1-3 )1 The distance between the peripheryoftheapplyg ingiroller 19 "and the -platen-18 is greater than the heightofthe blank- 12.

The respective:spaced-relations--of the applying roller 19., the. pilotrollers :26: and the pivotal axis 16 of the'frame' 15,: insrespect'rtothe platen 18; are such that th'e'advanc ing blankllwilliholdthe pilotrollers 26 upwardly away from. the platen a distance sufiicient' tocause the applying? roller 19 :to beardownwardly against theforce "ofthe, spring -bias v30') upon thetop surfaceof the blank '12" andtherebypressxandapply tape 32ito the top surface: The frame isthen intape applying position (notsh'own'li The idler roller; 22;is:positionedin' the frame so thatit's periphery will notcontact the top surfaceofthe bla'nlc when the. frameissin theapplying position with the -ap'="plying roller 19 bearingupon-the top=surfaceof the bki nk.

After the. blank-J2 travels past :the lay-dowmdevicei including theframe 15, pilot rollers 26 and applying roller 19;-the I ,blank travelspastea bufiing pad *andkutterassembly 35 mounted 'for: vertical-reciprocation' and' inr-'- pelled downwardly and upwardly, asbymeansofa spring means and a ;solenoid.:(not -shown) or by means-"of amechanically actuated systemsuch as disclosed 'inmy' copendingapplication entitled Mechanical Cfit-Oif -for Tear- Strip Applicator,SerialJNo. 429,350; file'd of even date herewith. The-assemblysilicomprises a bufiingpad' 38'and a knife 39;

The portion;ofvthe.;working surface of 'theplaten-=18 adjacent the tape(beneath thettapein:the-illustrated-machine)v is slightlywdepressedin:respect'tothe general level of the working surfacealong which thecarton blank-"' slides. The depressed portion formed by the platen 18'extends in alignmentwithjtheutape r32,.:and-.is wider'th'an': the tapebut narrower than thevlengthi'of the applyingroller-19. The depthoftherchannelis somewhat greaterf than the thickness of the taper-andit-extends to-theright and left. (Figure 1) beyond the abutting,pad'38eand ztheis applying roller 19,;respectiVely: Thelbuflingepad is narrower than the ehannelgsosthat it may'fit intorlthelchannel or depressed:Portion and: press: the. tapezagainstzthe dea: pressed. portion of the;platen-:surface;.

In operation of ,the, lay;- down: mechanism;;thentapefiisn unwound froma ;supply:-roll 40iand isled from the supply to and..-around.= the"idler: rollerz22 'with itsadhesive-w. side out. From thence itisLled'tothe -right,-"adhesiv'e'" side down, beneath the applying roller" 19 "andthence: along the platen ls be'neath the raised butfin'g' pad 38:: untilthe leading end indirectly beneath'theknife39. The leading portion -320f thetape that extendsfro'nit" the left end of the bufiing pad 38 tothe knife 39 is then manually pressed down upon the depressed portion ofthe surface of the platen 18to adhere'it thereto. It may subsequently bepeeled off without soiling the platen or harming the tape. The leadingportion has thus been temporarily applied to the platen; The'unappliedportion of the tape extends upwardly from the platen to and around theapplying roller 19, and thence through the take-up device to behereinafter described to the supply roll 40.

As the first carton blank 12 is fed from the left by the feed rollersand 11, it is advanced along the platen in the direction of the arrow 41until the leading end of counterclockwise about the pivotal axis 16against the pull of the spring 30, and thereby causing the apply ngroller 19 at the near end of the arm to move downwardly into contactwith the top surface of the blank 12 with a portion of the tape 32between the roller 19 and the top surface of the blank.

The tape is thus applied, at this point in the progress of the blank 12through the machine, to the leading edge surface of the blank and thencealong the top surface of the blank to the applying roller point ofcontact. Since the application of this length of tape on the leadingedge and top surfaces is accomplished by the time the blank commences topull or withdraw fresh tape from the takeup mechanism indicatedgenerally at 44, the strain'on the blank which is caused by the suddencommencement of the tape withdrawal is distributed over a portion of theblank that is relatively great in comparison to the portion that wouldthus be strained were the pull-ofi to commence when the tape is appliedonly to the leading edge surface of the blank. The applying roller 19 islocated at a point removed from the leading'portion of the tape and isnormally in spaced relation to the platen 18 and it does not descenduntil a portion of the blank has passed under it, so that. its firstcontact with the blank is made at a point removed from the leading endedge of the 7 blank.

Continued advancement of the blank peels off the portion of the tapethat was initially applied to the platen 18 and turns the tape back onitself so that it'becoines applied to the bottom of the blank until allthe portion a 32' has been transferred from the platen to the bottomofthe blank.

'After the trailing end of the blank has passed the pilot rollers, thespring 30 returns the applying roller frame 15 to its normal positionwith, the applying roller 19 above the level of the top surface of theblank (Fig. 2).

After the trailing end of the blankhas passed the knife 39, the assembly35 automatically moves down into operative position, whereby the knife39 severs the tape and the buffing pad 38 presses downwardly upon theplaten 18. The length of tape that was drawn out along the platenbeneath the pad 38 by the movement of the carton blank prior to theabove described severance, is thus pressed by the downwardly moving padto become the leading portion such as 32' of the next succeeding lengthtemporarily applied to the platen.

Inaccordance with the presently claimedinvention,

- there is interposed between the tape lay down mechanism wardmovementrof the spool 50, to provide the initial supply of tape. Theroller 50 is carried by a carriage 51 of relatively low inertia incomparison with the supply roll 40, and the carriage is guided by meansof a guide structure indicated generally at"52. Additional guidingrollers 53, 54, 55 and 56 are provided for .defining the path of thetape. Means including a cable 60 connected to the carriage 51 isprovided for urging the carriage in a direction to extend the path oftravel of the tape to take-up slack in the tape as the sudden demandduring initial application of the tape to the carton blank subsides.

Thus, as the box blank enters therocker type applying mechanismheretofore described including the frame 15 and the components carriedthereby, the tape applying mechanism or lay down mechanism applies thetape several inches away from the leading edge of the box blank, freelysnapping the loose tape tab provided by the tape portion 32' over thisleading edge, so that the tape tension and the action of the spool 50 isabsorbed in shear only of the bond between the tape and the cartonblank.

Spool 50 is mounted on a shaft 62 and is=rotatable on the shaft, theshaft being mounted on the'lightweight carriage 51 which may be made'ofaluminum. Carriage 51 is free to travel vertically in a range ofapproximately six feet within the guide structure 52. The carriage, withits component parts, is extremely light in weight to provide lowstarting inertia when a carton blank calls for immediate tape pay-elf.Bearings assist in the free wheeling of the carriage to provideanti-friction traveling throughout the six foot length of take-upstroke, the bearings also stabilizing the carriage laterally andendwise. Inits uppermost position, the restoring means including thecable 60 exert approximately a one pound tension.

When a carton blank such as 12 travels through the tapev applyingstation, the spool 50 travels down' the guide;v

structure 52 from four to six feet, depending on the speed of the cartonblank and other variables, before the tape supply roll 40 gets up to thespeed of the blank. Due. to the rapid acceleration of the supply roll40, it not only arrives at box blank speed, but exceeds the speed of thebox blank to pay off more tape than that which is actual 1y beingapplied on the box blank at a particular instant.

The slack in the tape 32 allows the take-up spool 50 to rise and resumenearly its original position at the top -ofthe track as indicated inFig. 3.

Because the supply roll 40 continues in motion after the first box blank12 has passed through the station, succeed ing box blanks such as 67 inFig. 3 do not impose as great a tension on the tape as the first blank.As a consequence the travel of the tape take-up'spool 50 is considerablyless,

the spool hunting in about a two foot space near the top. V of the guidestructure 52. With the tape spool 50 in this hunting condition, there isnot a great differential in tape tension and a relatively uniform andcontinuous tape pay-01f from supply roll 40 is possible. The mandrel. of

the supply roll '40 is equipped with a friction drum indi- Y cateddiagrammatically at 68 and a simple friction brake.

indicated at 69 to apply the slight amount of friction necessary toinhibit over-run of supply roll 40 and thus to prevent excessive tapepay-off when take-up spool 50 is in its uppermost location; eliminateslooping of the'tape.

In detail, the illustrated take-up'device comprises an upright tube(Figure 4) having a plurality of spacer brackets 81 mounting a guidetrack 82 for the carriage 51. The'tube 80 may be carried by means of abracket 84 which may be secured with the tape applying structure, whichstructure in turn may be laterally movable relative to the path oftravel of the carton blanks through the machine. For returning thecarriage toward its vupper position to take-up slack in the tape 32, thetube .80 has a spring 86 secured therein which is connected to cable 60trained around a pulley 88 carried by the pipe, the cable being attachedto the. carriage 51 by means of a The friction brake 69 thus,

clamp down plate indicated at 90 (Figure 6). A bracket 93 mounts thepulley 88 and is slotted or apertured to accommodate the portions of thecable on either side of the pulley which extend downwardly through thebracket.

The guiding structure for the carriage comprises a pair of angle trackbars 95 secured to a track bar 96 carried by brackets 81. The angle barshave inturned flanges 95a providing the outer bearing surfaces for therollers of the carriage and sides 95b providing the side bearingsurfaces for the rollers. The track bar 96 provides an inner surfaceupon which the rollers bear.

As seen in Figs. 6 and 7, a shaft 97 at the upper end of the carriage 51carries rollers 98, a lower shaft 100 carries rollers 101, while lateralrollers 102 are carried by spaced ears 103 projecting laterally from thebody of the carriage 51.

The leader spool 50 has a generally hour glass shape with a centralreduced diameter tape receiving portion and diverging frusto conicalside portions such as 50a and is carried on the shaft 62 securedcentrally of the carriage 51.

The carriage 51 is thereby constrained both laterally and endwise forrelatively frictionless traveling throughout the six footh length of thetake-up stroke. The tension of spring 86 is adjusted by means of afastening bolt 110 which can be located in any one of a plurality ofvertically spaced holes 111 in the tube 80 adjacent the lower endthereof.

It will be apparent that modifications and variations may be eifectedover a wide range without departing from the scope of the novel conceptsof the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a tape supply, a tape applying device for applyingtape received from said tape supply to a traveling article, a take-updevice operably receiving said tape and interposed between said supplyand said applying device to establish a circuitous path for tape fromsaid supply to said applying device, said take-up device being movableto shorten said circuitous path and thereby to provide a supply of tapeto said applying device independent of delivery of tape from said tapesupply, and said take-up device having an effective inertia less thanthe inertia of said supply, said take-up device thereby being operativeto absorb an initial high demand for tape by said applying device priorto delivery of tape by said tape supply at the speed of travel of thearticle, the take-up device having means providing progressivelyincreasing resistance to movement thereof in a direction to shorten saidcircuitous path to progressively increase the force exerted by the tapetending to pull tape from the supply thereof to rapidly bring the speedof the tape delivered from the supply up to article speed, said take-updevice comprising a carriage, a guideway for said carriage, and a tapereceiving means carried by the carriage, said carriage being movablealong said guideway to shorten the path of the tape from said supply tothe applying device.

2. A tape applying mechanism comprising a rocker type tape lay downdevice for applying tape to a succession of articles traveling atsubstantially constant speed, a tape supply roll for supplying tape tosaid lay down mechanism, a take-up assembly having a spool means forreceiving said tape and defining a circuitous path for tape from saidsupply roll to said lay down mechanism, an upright support structureincluding a guideway for guiding said spool means for movement to reducethe length of the path of said tape from said supply roll to said laydown device, and means urging said spool means in a. direction to extendthe path of said tape from said supply roll to said lay down device,said spool means being movable along said guideway to define a shorterpath for said tape from said supply roll to said lay down device tosupply tape to said lay down device during a period when the tape isapplied to an article moving faster than the speed at which tape issupplied from the supply roll.

3. In combination, a tape supply roll, a rocker type tape applyingmechanism for receiving tape from said roll and applying the same toarticles traveling through said lay down device, and a take-up assemblybetween said tape supply roll and said lay down device and having a tapereceiving means for defining a circuitous path for tape from said supplyroll to said lay down device, a guiding structure defining a path oftravel to reduce the length of said circuitous path for tape from saidroll to said lay down device, a carriage having rollers cooperating withsaid guiding structure for movement along said path and carrying saidtape receiving means, an upright tube carrying said guiding structureand having a pulley at the upper end thereof, a flexible cable connectedwith said carriage and extending around said pulley and into saidupright tube, and a spring secured within said tube and connected at oneend with said cable for urging said carriage to its upper position withthe tape receiving means defining an elongated circuitous path for thetape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,964,874 Fankboner July 3, 1934 2,050,053 Graf et a1 Aug. 4, 19362,195,222 Neumair Mar. 26, 1940 2,564,901 Hess Aug. 21, 1951 2,604,825Sieg July 29, 1952

